Sunday, January 29, 2012

A few friends have requested something called a “birth
story.” I hope this is sufficient.

I found out I was pregnant last May, just before my 32nd
birthday. The first order of business,
after buying Cal his inauguratory
“Big Brother” t-shirt, was finding an OBGYN willing to liberally prescribe
Zofran for my nausea. I struck gold when
I found a doctor who not only fit the aforementioned bill, but had the added
bonus of having been sued for malpractice in 2002. The beauty of doctors who
have been sued for malpractice is that their offices are not exactly booming
with patients (in spite of being cleared on all counts, rest assured, maintaining his license and position on the hospital board, and being one of the most lovely people I have ever met). While expectant friends of mine
were waiting up to an hour and half to be seen at the hot practices in town, I
was greeted with open arms each visit, and literally never endured more than a
5 minute wait.

At 8 months along I called the office and floated the idea
of scheduling an induction, asking if he would consider “medically necessary”
the fact that it stressed me out to think of going into labor in the middle of
the night, and having to wake someone up to come collect my kids. He readily agreed, and confided that he and his wife had actually been hoping to attend a medical conference in Florida on my due date. We made a good team, me
and Dr. Tashman.

I texted Jack at work with the happy news that his second son
would arrive one week early, on January 17th. He responded that January 17th was
the anniversary of when the Drudge Report broke the story of the Clinton
Lewinsky affair, and that Jack’s birthday (August 17th) was the
anniversary of when Clinton
confessed. What! Meant to be! Also, that
the baby would be born on the same day as Michelle Obama. Oh well.

So, at 7:30 am on
the First Lady’s 47th birthday, we checked into the hospital. Eight hours later, after my easiest labor and delivery yet, baby was born at 8 pounds, 0 ounces, and I have no idea how
many inches. He was healthy, heavenly,
and handsome like his dad.

That evening Jack treated me to date night. Chipotle in my recovery room, which we ate
while he watched PTI, and I gazed at my new little bundle.

After dinner he picked up the kids and brought them to meet
their brother. It’s tradition in our family that babies come to earth bearing
gifts for their new siblings. In addition to coloring books, crayons and
playdough, this child arrived, per Jack’s request, with four Nerf N-Strike
Nightfinder guns and a stockpile of ammunition.
I liked to think that during my hospital stay everyone was at home
missing me sadly, but suspected otherwise when I arrived and found bright
orange darts scattered through every corner of the house.

Not that I myself had been suffering during my time away, thanks
to the best hospital food in the United States. Beyonce’s million dollar suite had nothing on my
delectable six-page menu of whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it. I took full advantage and came to know the food
delivery staff well, including a talkative 19-year old girl named Lesbia. I
don’t know if birth stories typically include the name of the person who brings
your food, but in this instance I found it noteworthy.

Settling on a name for my own baby is a long story for another day,
but suffice to say that the road to Eddie was a bit winding. In a few days however, when the vital records office receives our $10 check and minor child
name change form, I’m hoping we can all look back on his identity crisis and
have a good laugh. His full name is
Edson Jack Erb. Depending on social circumstances, he will answer equally to
Eddie (at school), EJ (giving people high fives), Edson (playing professional sports), Edson J. (serving as a General Authority) or Little E (riding his tricycle).

Friends and family have welcomed him with open arms, and spoiled him with love and gifts. His favorite present arrived two days
before he was born, when my sister Aileen delivered him a BYU roommate and future mission companion, Mack Bennett Bracken, seen here at 8
pounds, 8
ounces of cousin perfection.

We’ve been home from the hospital for a week now, just the six of us. Both Jack’s parents and my mom visited around
the holidays and spoiled us rotten, so we honorably excused them from
grandparent duty and are flying solo. I’ve been enjoying a sleepy but blissful revolving
door of nursing and naps. Jack, meanwhile, has repaired the furnace and the
car, assembled a loft bed for Cal, done all the dishes and laundry, prepared
the meals, run the errands, and volunteered in the classroom, breaking only
long enough to play outside with the kids or to instigate their epic indoor
Nerf battles.

Every night when the house is finally quiet, we collapse on
the couch, and count our blessings.

There are only two occasions in life – birth, and death, and
I have experienced both in my family – when the world and everything in it
respectfully turns around and takes a step back, leaving you alone in your
little nest to hunker down and focus exclusively on what matters most. Your family.

Our phone and doorbell haven’t rung. Jack’s projects at work have been put on hold. We’ve let emails go unanswered, homework be
neglected, and dust settle where it may.

For once I haven’t cared about the toys scattered all over
the floor, the pile of mail stacked up on our desk, or the fact that showers
have been few and far between. For one
peaceful week, I’ve been able to put all of that on hold, and focus exclusively
on welcoming this little spirit to our family, wondering who he is, and
appreciating the feeling that heaven is on earth, and in fact somewhere within
the walls of this old brick house.

Tomorrow morning, life will resume. Our
alarms will ring again after their two week hiatus. Jack will board the 7:30 Metro and head back to work. I’ll return to the
preschool carpool, cleaning the bathroom, monitoring math homework, and
deciding what to make for dinner.
Gradually, the pace of life will pick back up normal, and the messes and
piles of mail that annoyed me before will start to annoy me again.

Thank goodness we get to keep this little reminder of what
matters most.